Still time to influence postal plant decision

I am proud to be an employee who works at the mail processing plant in Cedar Rapids. My wife and I relocated here in 1993 because our research showed that Cedar Rapids had an outstanding reputation for being a progressive, growing city with many opportunities.

The U.S. Postal Service wants to close our mail processing plant and move the work and workers to Milan, Ill. Yes, I have a vested interest in my job. I don't want to move to Illinois, but I believe there is more at stake for Cedar Rapids than my job.

Local small businesses will lose business and maybe lay off workers. The postal plant buys a lot of supplies locally and uses various subcontractors in the area. The plant employees who leave will no longer be spending money or paying taxes. They won't be helping local charities. Two hundred-plus employees and a payroll of more than

$10 million per year will be gone.

It also will detract from the image of Cedar Rapids as a place for new business to locate to. How many future jobs will not materialize?

The city should do an economic impact study. The decision is not final. Your comments can influence the final outcome. Local comment letters must be mailed by Dec. 14 to Manager, Consumer & Industry Contact, Hawkeye District, 7900 Hickman Rd, Des Moines, IA 50324-4400.

Brian Hamrick

Springville